Le Sud Takes Over Chez Soi's Old Digs

advertisement

From the ashes of Chez Soi, a French bistro located on Gongti East Road, comes Le Sud – a phoenix that’s bright, blue, and set to offer southern French fare with a twist.

“Blue is my favorite color,” laughs Chef Thiery David, who has worked in a number of French restaurants in the capital, including Maison Flo. “I also chose blue because I was born on an island in the south of France; you see blue all around you from the day you’re born.”

"Le Sud" means "The South" in French

“David was originally meant to help us bring something new to Chez Soi” Caroline, former manager of Chez Soi tells me. When it was decided Chez Soi wasn’t to continue, though, she says she left the restaurant in the hands of David, who in her eyes was more than capable of breathing new life into the space.

And new life in the space there is. The interior and exterior space have been completely overhauled since the change in ownership. It’s now filled with white walls, primarily blue seating and marble tabletops (the layout could change depending on where people like to sit, says David), and other elements like tiled walls, a wine cooler and sleek bar. There’s also a menu in development, but this will take time.

The interior is bright, open, and eclectic, but we're told this could change in the future

“Everything on the menu will have a twist,” Tab, former marketing manager of Chez Soi, tells me enthusiastically. This is echoed by David, who says they’ll have a simple menu of mainly southern French dishes to start out, particularly lots of fish, but it will either expand or contract with demand or change based on season.

There will also be a focus on enhancing flavors with unexpected ingredients. “For instance, with duck and a few other dishes, I’ll use Japanese elements like miso or dashi” explains David. “I feel like Japanese works well with French; Japanese has a nice umami that can elevate other cuisines.”

A look at Le Sud's wine fridge, which boasts an ample selection of natural wines

A dive into the unexpected continues to the drinks menu as well. In the wine fridge, there is a considerable amount of natural wine, which is there for a purpose. “I like natural wine because the wine makers can use whatever grapes they want to make the wine and can add anything they want during fermentation” exclaims David as we look at the selection.

advertisement

“There’s a lot of natural sediment left over, and some funky flavors as well,” he says holding up one bottle in which  sediment twirls about, a testament to the truly natural aspect of the wine.

People are coming to the restaurant in the mornings to partake in pastries and coffee

These wines, along with a soon-to-be-made menu of house cocktails, demands that patrons come with an open mind. Everything at Le Sud is going to be unlike any French restaurant in the capital; dining as an experience worth remembering.

Plus, Le Sud will be open earlier than most places in the neighborhood as well. “We want to open around 7.30am every day, so that people on their way to work can grab a quick coffee and pastry before they get to the office” David says.

Chef David and the team plan to open around 7.30am in the future, to allow people on their way to work to grab a quick coffee and bite on the go

As of this week, Le Sud is only offering a small menu of tea, coffee, and pastries like croissants. Even with the bare-bones menu, people are still coming to sit in the new space, either to work or simply to enjoy a coffee and croissant in a wholly new environment.

And the team hopes it will be a spot for different tastes. Whether for coffee and a pastry, or duck paired with an eye-opening natural wine, the plan is to make Le Sud a neighborhood spot for everyone.

Le Sud Restaurant 南法私厨餐馆

16 Gongti Dong Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工人体育场东路16号

READ MORE

Images: Vincent R. Vinci, courtesy of Le Sud

advertisement

Top Stories This Week

Beijingers Are Buzzing About